Classic Run for It’s No Joke?

By Joe Kristufek

Should he or shouldn’t he?

Trainer Rebecca Maker indicated Monday that she is seriously considering a Breeders’ Cup Classic run for Hawthorne Gold Cup winner It’s No Joke.

Why not?

He’s now proven himself over ten furlongs, appears to be peaking at the right time, and he certainly likes Churchill Downs, where he has won three of four career starts.

Outside of the 3-year-old Bernardini, is there anybody in the division that really scares you?

Lava Man is a monster in California, but the Breeders’ Cup is in Kentucky this year. I think Invasor is the real deal, but he called off sick to Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, and perhaps he won’t be at his very best on Saturday, November 4.

It doesn’t look like Discreet Cat will run in the Classic, and the Europeans are always suspect. David Junior, Dylan Thomas and perhaps Shirocco, last year’s BC Turf winner who clunked in the Arc last weekend, lead this year’s overseas brigade.

We’ll get to see what Dylan Thomas, the winner of the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes on turf, can do on dirt when he takes on the red hot American sophomore Bernardini, winner of the Preakness, Jim Dandy, and Travers, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday at Belmont.

Lava Man will also be in action on Saturday, taking on a short field of foes in the Grade II Goodwood Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. His competition includes 2005 Kentucky Derby upsetter Giacomo, 2005 Hawthorne Gold Cup winner Super Frolic and early season 3-year-old sensation Brother Derek.

This year’s Classic doesn’t appear that it will be overly deep or overwhelmed with talent. It’s certainly not one that I would duck from.

In the 22 previous runnings, the Classic has been won by six horses sent off at odds of 10-1 or higher -- Volponi at 43-1 in 2002, Cat Thief at 19-1 in 1999, Alphabet Soup at 19-1 in 1996, Arcangues at 133-1 in 1993, Skywalker at 10-1 1986 and Wild Again at 31-1 in 1984.

I’m not saying It’s No Joke can upset the Classic. He would have to run a lot better than he did in the Gold Cup to do that, but in a $5 million race, even fifth money is worth $150,000.

Churchill Downs is a quirky track, but It’s No Joke has proven he can handle it.

Who knows, perhaps he’ll get the last laugh again.

Current Breeders’ Cup Classic Championship Poll

1

Bernardini

137

2

Lava Man

116

3

Invasor (ARG)

115

4

Sun King

70

5

David Junior

63

6

Discreet Cat

62

7

Dylan Thomas (IRE)

52

8

Strong Contender

36

9

Shirocco (Ger)

30

10

Perfect Drift

14

Following their win in the Grade III Robert F. Carey Memorial on Saturday, the question was raised: “When was the last time a father and son teamed up to win a graded stakes race?”

The answer?

Trainer Mike Campbell and jockey son Jesse did it this past spring at Oaklawn in the Grade III Fifth Season with Kid Grindstone, who would later return to run third in the Gold Cup.

Campbell has indicated that No Tolerance has earned a well deserved vacation, and that he’ll resume training this spring at Oaklawn. Kid Grindstone could pop up next in the Grade III Fayette over nine furlongs at Keeneland on October 28. “Kid” is proven on both turf and dirt, which means he may love Polytrack.

Jesse was overflowing with emotion after the race. His father’s career as a jockey ended prematurely due to injury, and the stable had suffered through some lean years recently. Some amazing claims the past couple of springs, including No Tolerance for $30,000 and Kind Grindstone for $40,000, changed all that.

Jesse and twin brother Joel Campbell both began riding as teenagers, and father Mike and mother Janice have not only guided and supported them as parents, they’ve also been there as friends.

Good things sometimes happen to good people.

Congratulations Campbell family. You deserve it!

* Astute horseplayers who jumped into the Hawthorne's $50,000 guaranteed "Golden Pick Three", and came up with the correct combination of 1-2-5 (Stormina at 2-1, It's No Joke at 7.90-1 and No Tolerance at 5-1) were rewarded with a $234.30 payout on a $1 ticket. A total of $34,887 was in the pool, short of the guarantee. Without the additional money, the Pick 3 would have returned $163.50.